Automatic sprinkler.



A. J. GROSS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1915.

1,285,133. Patented Nov. 19,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

nu: Inns: mus q mar-a. nun-ml. a z

A. J. GROSS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1915.

Patented N 0v. 19, 1918.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

A. J. GROSS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER. APPLICATYION FILED FEB. 23.1915.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3- MWKM 43? W ALLAN GROSS,v OF CHICAGO,.ILLINOISQASSIGNOR 0F rwonnmns TO JOHN L..

KENNEDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed February 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN-J. Gnoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following. is a description.

My invention "belongs to that. general class of devices known as automatic sprinklers, and relates particularly toa sprinkler head for automatic sprinkling systems. The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient, compact, durable, eflicient and satisfactory. It has particularly among its objects the production of an improved mechanism for securely and positively maintaining the valve upon its seat, and which construction will preclude the possibility of dead centering or toggling. In the improved construction shown the mechanism is locked against operation by a fusible link, or what might be properly termed a fusible link key, the various parts being so constructed and the leverage so compounded that a very small percentage of thestrain or power applied to the levers istransmitted to the fusible solder of the link or key. The invention also has among its objects the production of a device thatis exceedingly sensitive upon the melting of the fusible retainer, for securing the parts of the key together, but which is flexible enough so as not to be operative upon abnormal shocks, nor whichvwill be rendered inoperative by an. incomplete opening ofthe sprinkler, and cooling and resetting of the solder by spray. The invention in one formshown also embodies an improved deflector designed to distribute the water in an efiicient manner, but

. without the necessity of overlapping the spaces in order not to leave any unprotected. Other objects and advantages of the construction will appear: and be obvious tothose skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. To this end, my invention consists in the novel. construction, arrangement and; combination of partsherein shown and described,

and: more particularly; pointed out in the claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19,1918.

Serial No. 10,067.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding 1 parts,

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of my improved sprinkler head;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on line 3,3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4, 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the strut members;

Fig. 6-is a similar view of the other cooperating member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one part of the link or key members;

, Fig. 8'is a similar view of the cooperating member;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of another form of my device;

Fig. 1 0 is a top elevation of the same;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the same taken substantially 011 line 11, 11 of Figs. 9 and 12.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through the same similar to Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the v strut members;

b Fig. 14: is a similar view of'the other mem- Figs. 15 and 16 are perspective views of the cooperating link or key members;

Fig. 17 isa partial: side elevation and sectional view of'a head' illustrating a slightly difi'erent construction of strut members;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 18, 1801: Fig. 19, of a simplifiedstrut and; key member;

Fig. 19 isa view in elevation of the same; Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 20, 20 of Fig. 21, illustrating another construction of, strut and key, and

these figures, 1 is the bodyof the head orportion ofthe. frame, which is formed as at '5, or in an equivalent manner for attachment to the water. supply. The "frame is l 7 formed with the arms 2, the. ends oiiwhich are connected by a boss through which extends a screw member 6, the head i of which is shown in Fig. 2. The part 1 is chambered. in the usual manner, the outlet or discharge opening being normally closed by a suitable valve member a, arranged to seat on the part- 1. l have shown a gasket 10 arranged be tween the valve and its seat, the particular construction of the valve and seat being as preferred. lhe valve, as clearly shown in Fin. 1. is formed with a depression 8, and

tlie adjustable screw member 6 with the reor depression 9. Arranged between the adjustable member 6 and the valve l is a strut or retaining member, which consists of the cooperating parts 11. and 16. Part 11 (see Fig. 6) is formed as at 1'2, or in an equivalent manner to seat in the depression 8 in the valve 1, and is otl'set at 13, and formed with a shoulder 14. the same being substantially L-shaped. The opposite end 15 is preferably beveled, as shown, or that brought substantially to a knife edge, although somewhat blunt. The other member or part 16 is formed with a projection or e: tension 17 at one end, and with a part 18 ranged to seatin the recess 9, of the member (5. It is formed with an offset or projection 20, shouldered at 21, so that it is substantially T-shaped. In operation the struts or parts 11 and 16 form substantially single strut, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4-. Re-

, ferring to this figure, it will be noted that the end15 or part 11 engages in shoulder 19 of part 16, the engagement beingoil? center. so that as the screw 6 is adjusted or screwe-il down, the tendency for the lower end of part 16 is to be moved away from 11., thereby releasing the part 11 and valve The parts are maintained in operative po sition by what may be termed a fusible link 7 or key, which consists of suitably formed parts '22 and 27, secured together by fusible solder or its equivalent. The part which ismost clearly shown in 8, is formed with an ofiset at 23, with its lower end 24- arranged to rest upon the extension. 13 of strut part 11, and be eneaged by the shoulder 14. The same is prevented. from sliding sidewise by the ears 25. l have also shown a part 26 oilset laterally at one side, the purpose of the same being more fully described hereafter.

The cooperating part 27 is formed at to engage shoulder on extension 20 of part 16, the ears 3O normally maintaining the part against sidewise movement. As

shown, the same is oii setas at 28, the lower endbeing formed with ears The part is positioned with its face against the face of part as shown in ig. 4t, with the ears32 at the sides of the offset 26. The link or key parts are then secured together by solder 33, or in an. equivalent manner. The exteneeann sion 26 terms a convenient surface for the. solder to engage, and the solder passes through the opening or cut-out and en ages on both sides of part 22, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4%. It will be noted, as shown in the figure just referred to, that the lower end 0t strut part 16 rests against the fusible link or key substantially at the ofiset :23, but otherwise the key is only in contact with the parts at the extensions 13 and 20. Assumin the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. if the adjustable spindle or screw member 6 is turned down, movement is transmitted through the strut members on the *alve The key or link, however, retains the strut part 16 and prevents any turninp; movement. The degree of temperature at which the key will release the struts, of course, depends upon the composition of the fusible solder retaining the key in place. Nowithstanoing the :t'act that a great strain may be placed upon the strut, but a. small s rain is placed upon or transmitted to the link, and, in fact, the strain is so slightthat even sealing wax is suficient toretain the link or key parts together.

However, upon failure of the fusible retainer 3-3, tie leverage is suiiieient'to violently throw the link parts out of operative position, and the struts as well. Upon the releasing of the struts, the valve 1 is, of course, released, permitting the water to es A A bafiie 84: is shown carried by the frame for distributing'the water, the same being slotted at 35, permitting the water to reach the ceiling- The construction shown in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive is somewhat similar. tion l have shown the same type of frame and adjusting screw, and a similar but slightly different form of valve 38. In this case the valve38, which is seated on a gasket or packing ring this formed with a slot or recess 89, and with an additional slot or recess 40. Broadly speaking, the construction of struts and key is the same except that the key is arranged to engage the valve in slot 40 instead of an extension upon the valve strut member. As shown, strut member is formed with its ends as at 43 and 44, pane?) being similar to part 16. lt'has the end 47 formed with a shoulder e8 at one side, and shoulder 51 in the extension 50, together with boss 4C9, the lower end 16 being arranged to bear against the key. In this case, however, the part 52 of the key is arranged to rest in the groove t0, the same For illustrabeing ofiset as at 53 and formed witha outare secured togetherby solder 63, or the The operation is substantially equivalent. identical w1th the other construction previously described. have shown the frame equipped in this case with a square bafiie having the. edges flanged or turned down at the. desired angle and slotted as at 56. The purpose of this type of battle is to so distribute the water that the water from the sprinklers, will not overlap. In laying out a system it is customary to lay off the spaces protected by sprinklers into a series of squares, but owing to the distribution belng circular to any cover protected areas, the

distribution from: several sprinklers -must overlap, thereby giving more water 'than .to engage in the slot in the valve 38. It is also provided with ears 73, adapted tomaintain the parts in proper relation with each other. In this case the solder Tet may be arranged substantially asshown. IVhile I have shown the key in Figs. 12 and 17 as engaging the cap or valve, obviously the parts might be reversed and the key engage with a suitable part arranged above the key andv strut members, or the construction might be modified to be similarly arranged at both ends of the key.

A slightly'modified construction of strut members and keys therefor is shown in Figs. 18 to 21. In the construction shown in Figs. 18 and 19, member 76 is formed as at 77 to engage with the valve, and member 80, as at 81, to engage in the adjustable screw, itbeing understood, however, that the parts may be reversed or inverted. Part 80 is extended as at 82 on one side with a shoulder below, and formed with a shoulder 83 upon the side. Part 76 is arranged to engage at itsv end 7 8 with the shoulder 83, and is provided with an extension 79, having a shoulder against which the lower end of the key member may hear. The key 84; is secured to part 80 by fusible solder 85, or

i the equivalent. I have shown the part 80 and key 84 formed, with a hole 86 and slot have a secure hold. With this construction I preferably form a. head or lip 88 on the part 80, which bears against the key 84, so

. that the parts are in contact at substantially that point, and at the upper end of the key. The operation is obvious'from the previous descriptionsv of the other forms.

' In the form shown in Figs. 20 and 21 the strut members are very similar to. those pre- I viously described, and the key also T re-,

sembles keys previously described. Referring to these figures, strut member 90 is formed with a part 92 arranged to engage with one of the head parts for such valve,

and with an extension 93 having a shoulder,

ample theadjusting screw, also extended as 98 and formed with a shoulder 99. The

key consists of two parts 101 and 105. Part 101 is offset at 102 with the end 103 in engagement with the. shoulder-99, and ears 104 maintaining the parts in operative positions. Part 105 is ofiset as at 106 with the end 107 in engagement with shoulder 94%, and ears 108 engaging. on each side of the extension. The parts are shown with holes or openings 109, 110 ,therethrough, and secured together by solder 111, or the equivalent. The solder may also be placed at 112 and 113, if so desired. Thepart 91 is also formed with a body 100, so as to forma minimum bearing on the. key. The operation is as previously set forth.

The parts are preferably made of corrosion proof bronze, the same being so de signed as to give the greatest strength for thegiven amount of metal, and to resist def- I onmation when under normal strain, as applied to the;closure by means of the compression screw. "It should be particularly .of the key to creep or the fusible solder to flow. It will be noted that the strut levers or members are constructed in such manner as to preclude the possibility ,of dead center ing or toggling, the leverage being so com pounded that there is but small strain on the key. The key or fusible link is extremely sensitive,the complete construction being such as to cause the parts to separate all parts of the closing device upon melting of the fusible solder. However, the parts are not affected by abnormal shocks, owing to the flexibility of the link or key andthe struts. The action upon releasing of the solder due to the parts of the strut being under compression is such as to violently throw the parts clear of the sprinkler. The complete opening of the sprinkler cannot be prevented by spray or cold water leaking from the nozzle'before it is completely open and resetting the fusible solder while the separation of'the locking members is incomwater is distributed over an approximately square area, each sprinkler covering its own allotted space without necessarily overlapping it, in order to leave no dry or unprotected spaces.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentione lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A retaining device for sprinkler heads, comprising a pair of coiiperating strut members, key comprising two parts arranged to overlap and lie face to face, one part formed with tongues at one end on each edge thereof and having a central portion partially cut out and offset toward the other, the other'part formed with a tongue on each edge at each end. v

2. A retaining device for sprinkler heads, comprising an l..-shaped member, and a T- shaped member arranged with the head of the L-shaped member positioned under one side of the head of the T-shaped member, with the leg of the T member extending substantially parallel with the leg of the, l... member, a key comprising two parts arranged'face to face, fusible means for se curing said key parts together, said key positioned with one end in engagement with the base of the L member, and the other end in engagement with the under side of the head of the T member on the opposite side of the leg thereof.

3.111 a sprinkler head provided with a suitable valve, means for securing said valve in operative positiomcomprising two parts overlapping each other, one part formed with a shoulder, the other part tapered to one edge and ar 'anged to engage the other part with the edge at said shoulder, each of said parts provided with an extended part, a key extending between said extended parts and contacting with the free ends of said extended parts, said key comprising a pluality of parts, and fusible means for securing said parts together.

4. A retaining device for sprinkler heads comprising a pair of cooperating strut members, a key lying substantially parallel with said strut members, one of said strut members engaging said key member at a point adjacent one end and at a second point intermediate its ends on the opposite side thereof, and fusible means for retaining said key in operative locking position.

5. A retaining device for sprinkler head valves, comprising a pair of cooperating strut members, a key comprising two parts arranged to overlap and lie face to face substantially parallel with the strut members and in engagement therewith adjacent the ends of the key, one of said members an ranged to engage the key at a point intermediate its ends, and fusible means for retaining said key parts in operative locking.

opposite side intermediate the ends, and

fusible means for securing the parts of said key together. 7

- 7. In a sprinkler head consisting of a suitable frame and having a valve, a two part strut arranged at its ends to engage said valve and said frame, one strut member havinga shoulder formed therein and overlapping the other, and the other constructed at one end to engage the first at said shoulder, a key for maintaining said strut parts in operative position including fusible retaining means, one strut member arranged to engage the key adjacent one end at one face thereof and the other arranged to engage the key at said face adjacent the other end, and at a point intermediate the ends on the other face. 7

S. In a sprinkler head provided with a valve opening and with an adjustable member arranged in alinement therewith, a

strut arranged between said member and the valve member, said strut comprising two parts, one part arranged to engage the valve and the other said adjustable member, said parts in engagement with each otherat one side of a line extending between the points of their engagement with said parts, whereby when pressure is applied on the end of the part engaging said valve one part will have a turning movement about the end of the other, and means for preventing said movement consisting of a key comprising a plurality of parts arranged at one side of the strut and engaging the samev substantially adjacent the ends of the struts and key, and at a point between said ends, and

fusible means for seeming said key parts together.

9. In a sprinklerhead valve retaining dev ce of the kind described and in combination, a pair of cooperating strut members arranged to engage the valve and a portion of the sprinkler head frame, a key consisting of a plurality of parts provided with fusible means for retaining the parts together, one strut member provided withan offset portion arranged to engage said key at one side thereof adjacent oneend, and the, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto other part provided with a similar ofiset signed my name in the presenceof two subportion arranged to engage said key at the scribing witnesses.

adjacent end on said side, and provided ALLAN J. GROSS. With an extending part arranged to engage Witnesses:

the key at a point between the ends but on ROY W. HILL,

the opposite side thereof. CHARLES I. COBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

